Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A blast occurred in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Ashoknagar District Hospital on Thursday due to a short circuit.
The loud blast created panic among the staff and patients, however a swift response by the nurses saved the lives of 10 newborn babies.
According to information, there was a spark in the electric wires, which then damaged the oxygen cable, leading to the blast.
The hospital has old and low-quality wiring, which has caused frequent short circuits in the past. At the time of the incident, 10 newborn babies were admitted in the ward.
As soon as the explosion was heard, chaos broke out. Nurses and worried parents standing outside rushed inside to save the babies and quickly shifted them to another ward.
An eyewitness, Arun, who was present during the blast, shared that sparks suddenly appeared near the AC wires, followed by a loud explosion. People started screaming in fear. Arun panicked as his newborn daughter was in the same ward.
Thankfully, hospital nurses and others acted quickly, moving all the newborns to safety. Another witness, Upendra, said that if there had been any delay, or if no staff members were present, the situation could have turned into a major tragedy.
This is not the first time such an incident has happened in the hospital. In the past year, three short circuit-related accidents have been reported. In July 2023, a short circuit caused an accident near the main gate of the OPD.
In January 2024, a similar incident occurred in the hospital’s electric room. Now, after nearly one and a half years, the SNCU ward has witnessed yet another dangerous event.
Authorities are being urged to take strict action and improve the hospital’s electrical system to prevent such life-threatening accidents in the future.
